Finding Joy Through Our Trials

This past week has been painful to watch. Death and destruction is constantly finding it’s way to the center of our news. Can joy be found?

It is hard to find a way to be happy when pain is all we see.

James 1:2 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds 3. for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (patience). 4. And let steadfastness (patience) have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

When we are going through the various trials in our life, we are to make the choice of having joy.

This is not an easy thing to do. It is HARD.

Making choices like this requires us to focus on the end result. Verse 4 shares the end result.

“That we would be perfect and complete.”

Now unless that is talking about your spouse (I Love My Wife) we are not all perfect. Only God is perfect. But what this is talking about is being made complete in our faith.

Trials are like going through a fire. Fires are used to forge objects, harden metal, and purify metal. Just like fires can be used in this manner, so trials strengthen us.

So as we go through trials know that it is making us more complete in Christ.

So how we you react when you face your trials?

1. Focus on the end result – being made complete in Christ
2. Spend time in prayer
3. Choose joy while going through your trial

I know that this is not a sufficient answer to the sufferings going on in our or your world. But for now focus on these scripture verses as I will be.

In coming weeks my desire is to share with you more about these questions. I hope to provide some answers as we all struggle with the pain and suffering in our world.

How do you deal with your trials?